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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Jessica Betsy Reed of Chicago, who passed
4away on March 31, 2017, at the age of 94; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Jessica Reed was born in Chicago on December 6,
61922 to Claire Burleigh and S. Benton Reed, who were both
7professional artists, which greatly influenced her own career
8path and experiences; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Jessica Reed became a pianist, harpist, vocal
10coach, and accompanist for professional singers such as William
11Conroy, Mark Love, Giorgio Tozzi, Robert Maluta, Alger Brazis,
12and the Meister Singers quartet, with whom she toured around
13the country; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Jessica Reed was staff accompanist at the Rosa
15Raisa-Giacometti Rimini Studio for opera singers; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Jessica Reed performed in concerts at Orchestra
17Hall, the Auditorium Theatre, the Civic Opera House, Grant
18Park, and other venues in 10 states; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Jessica Reed was an organist and director at Oak
20Park's St. Catherine of Siena Church from 1950 through 1970;

 

 

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1while in that position, she conducted the liturgical choir of
2men and boys and taught music appreciation at the parish grade
3school; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Jessica Reed later became the organist and
5director of the mixed choir at Oak Park Temple; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Jessica Reed's calligraphy was featured in a
7juried exhibit at the Newberry Library in Chicago and her paper
8sculptures have been displayed at the Mount Prospect Library;
9and
 
10    WHEREAS, Jessica Reed held multiple professional
11memberships in noted arts organizations, including the
12American Federation of Musicians, the American Guild of
13Organists, the National Guild of Piano Teachers, the MacDowell
14Artists Association, the Women's League of the Art Institute,
15the Society of Illuminators, and the Chicago Calligraphy
16Collective; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Jessica Reed was a renaissance woman, becoming a
18pilot and member of the Ninety-Nines, Inc., the International
19Organization of Women Pilots; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Jessica Reed was preceded in death by former
21husband, William Conroy; her brother, Alan Reed; and her

 

 

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1parents; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Jessica Reed is survived by her daughters, Valerie
3Gager (the late David), Linda Porter (Michael), and Maura Simms
4(the late Ricky); her grandchildren, Dawn and Marc DeMuro; her
5great-grandson, Panos Anastasiou; her brother, Robin Reed; and
6many nieces and nephews; therefore, be it
 
7    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL
8ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
9Jessica Betsy Reed, and extend our sincere condolences to her
10family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it
11further
 
12    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
13presented to the family of Jessica Reed as an expression of our
14deepest sympathy.